iPhone X Release Date, Specs and Price News: Pre-Orders Now More Important as Analyst Sees Production Issues Persisting
As the entire world likely already knows, pre-orders for the iPhone X will be accepted starting later this month. It has become even more important now that a notable analyst has suggested that Apple's "supercycle" could be delayed until next year due to persistent production difficulties.
Apple Still Has Production Issues
Supercycle simply pertains to the phase of sales where incredibly huge numbers of iPhone users will be upgrading to the newest model -- in this case, the iPhone X.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Even if the iPhone X was able to make it in stores this year (though, later than usual) notable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo still sees a production slowdown that could delay the supercycle caused by iPhone X to 2018.
In a recent research, Kuo said (via The Inquirer): "The market generally refers to 2017 as the supercycle of the iPhone, but we think the real supercycle will be in 2018."
Kuo cited several reasons for his forecast. However, what stood out the most was related to Apple's supply chain's ability to ramp up production of the TrueDepth Camera. As already discussed in earlier reports, the said component is what makes the Face ID work, thus it is a key element of the device.
However, Kuo suggested that the suppliers would only be fully capable of matching the demands, in terms of TrueDepth Camera production, in 2018.
"We estimate that for 2017, iPhone shipments will come in at 210-220mn units, which should grow to be 245-255mn units in 2018," Kuo added.
When and How to Pre-Order?
There are several ways to secure an iPhone X as soon as the pre-order period starts on Friday, Oct. 27. According to a Buzzfeed interview with Apple's SVP of Retail, Angela Ahrendts, the company opens the pre-orders at 12:01 a.m. PDT (3:01 a.m. EDT).
Ahrendts also agreed that the Apple Store app was "one of the fastest ways" to get a unit because buyers can just use the Touch ID feature to secure a purchase as soon as pre-orders are available.
To those currently without an Apple device, pre-orders are also accepted through the official Apple website. Luckily, over the years, Apple servers seem to have gotten the hang of handling very busy pre-order moments as the website is reportedly less likely to crash nowadays.
Another way is to pre-order a unit via the carriers' online stores. If customers intend to purchase a locked device, they can pre-order an iPhone X through the website of their chosen carrier or on the network which they are currently subscribed in.
Specs and Price
Aside from Face ID, there are several other cutting-edge features and specifications introduced in the iPhone X, which include the edge-to-edge OLED screen that supports Super Retina technology and 2,436 x 1,125 pixels resolution. The iPhone X, along with the iPhone 8 series, are the first from the lineup to natively support wireless charging, which means these devices are now fully-covered with glass materials from front to back.
Apple also promised that the A11 Bionic chip inside the iPhone X was "the most powerful and smartest chip ever in a smartphone."
Many expected that the iPhone X would be exceptionally expensive. Its $999 starting price is definitely a high price point. However, considering that its closest rival -- Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 -- was also priced just a few dollars less, the $999 price tag might not isolate the iPhone X that much.
